There’s a very clear ethos at The Board Inn and that’s to make sure simple, delicious, fresh Italian food is served in a setting that the folk of Chester-le-Street will know quite well. That setting is, of course, the classic British pub. Loved for so many reasons and here made also to feel like a local Italian bar, The Board Inn is not short on character. From this pub restaurant on Penshaw View in Birtley you can expect exposed original beams, wooden crates of wines lining the walls, dark wooden furniture and soft, dim light. There are varied spaces – including a conservatory – for drinking or for dining, meaning The Board Inn at Birtley is fit for all occasions.At this gem of suburban Chester-le-Street you’ll find early bird, kids, and Sunday lunch menus, but it’s the a la carte that really steals the show. On it, you’ll find Italian flavours that are sophisticated and beyond the norm in terms of what people may expect from casual Italian dining. The choice of antipasti to begin with is vast and curious, while the pizzas are prepared with traditional toppings as well as some slightly more modern. And it’s the same story with the pasta, as it happens, with variations and ingredients that will satisfy even the pickiest of palettes. A highlight for us is the tagliatelle alla Contadina, strips of fillet steak cooked with wild mushrooms in a rich red wine sauce. From Newcastle to Birtley, rejoice! The Board Inn is the real deal.